Use of pancreaticogastrostomy for pancreatic reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

After resection of the head of the pancreas, the distal remnant is typically telescoped into the jejunum. Recently, pancreaticogastrostomy has re-emerged as a useful alternative, as the anastomosis is easy and without tension. The results of pancreaticogastrostomy in 10 consecutive patients is reviewed, as is the literature of both the technique and the physiology of the procedure. In the current series, mean +/- SEM age was 65 +/- 2.3 years. Extended pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in two patients, pylorus-preserving in eight. Mean tumor size was 3.9 +/- 1.1 cm (range, 1.5-7.5 cm), mean operative time was 6.5 +/- 0.5 hours. Intraoperatively, 7.6 +/- 0.8 L of fluid was given, only two patients were transfused. The mean length of stay was 9.4 +/- 1.8 days. There were no anastomotic leaks, no deaths, and two patients developed temporary gastric ileus. There are now 841 pancreaticogastrostomies reported in the literature, with a leak rate of 3.1% and a death rate of 2.6%. Pancreaticogastrostomy is easy to perform, safe, and useful even after extended Whipple.